I was lucky enough to be perusing OpenTable when I saw a reservation for the Peking duck experience. They only do 2 of these ducks per night so feeling pretty lucky to have been able to snag a reservation. It was definitely the highlight of our meal - the skin was AMAZING. Definitely the best Peking duck I've had in a while and dare I say maybe the best when comparing to the other ones in the city like Mister Jiu's, Z&Y Peking Duck, The Progress... Besides the duck though, I also wanted to highlight the drinks (some of the best I've had a in a while) and their black pepper skirt steak. My husband wanted another order as soon as he had the first bite! All the food was delicious especially their small bites section - the tofu salad was an unexpected delight and the golden coin and firecracker shrimp were also notable. I would skip the scallop dumpling. I didn't love the cheung fun but everyone else at the table did! Dessert was also just okay - the strawberry tanghulu was great and our server was kind enough to add another skewer to the order for us since we had 4 people but the jasmine tofu pudding wasn't sweet enough and tasted a bit bland. Overall excellent service and food/drinks! Definitely on the pricier side but it's a nice special occasion spot. I was worried it was overhyped, but it was definitely worthy of the hype. read more

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We had a great dining experience here the other night. Service was excellent, everyone here was so friendly & professional, the food was very good, and even the general manager came by to talk to us about our dining experience, this place is great- classy, friendly, fun, and the food we tried was absolutely delicious. Ambiance was nice too, simple, clean, minimal, with wood & concrete & marble intermixed to create a nice appealing simple atmosphere that also feels homey & comfortable. Situated in the posh neighborhood of Hayes Valley, we were looking for a place to eat before heading to a confer at the Warfield. Happy Crane is a nice space, open, airy, clean, and well-planned to give good people watching views as you dine, mingle, and socialize around a bunch of younger professionals getting off from their day jobs. We were seated at the bar, and it offered a great view of the kitchen, the operations, and of the entire restaurant, as it was absolutely full of energetic, hungry, and happy diners embarking on their Wednesday night plans. Everyone here was upbeat & talkative, laughing & smiling, and enjoying their time spent here. The menu is pretty simple and limited. Everything looked & sounded divine, but as we do not eat meat, we chose the Doupi tofu salad and the crispy Maltake Cheung fun. The tofu salad was amazing, and I love the texture, spices, and even the quantity presented to us. It was perfectly seasoned with a hint of red bell pepper sauce which gave it a bit of tanginess & kick, without being overwhelmingly spicy or hot. The Cheung fun was absolutely delicious, wirh a bit of crispiness for that mouth chewing pleasure, and the subtle mushroom & yam flavors only complimented the delicious salty & subtly sweet flavors. I'd have both of these dishes again in a heartbeat, two of my favorite dishes ever in SF. We ordered cocktails and both were a bit disappointing. I had the Under Red Lanterns red bean yuzu vodka with pineapple & coconut cream and mostly tasted the pineapple, I even thought it might be a NA/mocktail I could not taste any alcohol. My partner had the Moon Over Kowloon shiso infused Japanese whiskey which was very strong and lacked any other flavoring to balance out the whiskey flavoring. So my drink tasted very weak & fruity, while theirs tasted overwhelmingly strong & alcoholic, neither drink had good balance. But, the presentation & concoction of said elixirs were a marvel to watch from the bar, as our bartender so artfully & precisely created them right in front of us. The space is big, comfortable, airy, and noisy. I loved sitting at the bar watching the food runners, bartenders, staff, and manager all hustle 101% to accomodate a full house. The manager took some time out of his busy time to even check up on us, that felt great. He was cordial, social, and even comical and a pleasure to talk to (ask him about his State & Liberty athletic machine washable leisure suits)!!! Overall, a great experience here. The food was outstanding. The person next to us dined on the 1-year Anniversary Flite and I felt like we really missed out. It had a lot of food, all attractively presented, and brought out & explained in great detail, I could not believe the amount of food for $150. But, we were completely happy with our food selection, just a bit disappointed with the cocktails. This place is busy, classy, loud, social, and fun, and the layout & decor keep things energetic & lively, for a great Hayes Valley dining experience. Would & will come back, although maybe not for the drinks. read more

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Super nice ambiance, very cute vibe overall. Good for a date night! Food was solid - tofu and firecracker prawns were amazing!! The abalone seafood stir fry was ok - lots of pea shoots and very little meat. The mushroom chun fun was also really good. Portions are SMALL. A nice gem in Hayes! read more

We finally got a reservation spot at this place and they were decent but not overwhelming. (3.8 not a true 4) The interior was very noisy but nicely decorated. ++The appetizers were good, especially the firecracker prawns and sliced beef chin were very memorable. - However the scallops dumplings were not flavorful only had texture. Overall the entrees fell short of flavor and I would definitely recommend appetizers over their entrees. The drinks were very good, we had the cocktails of Mala Rosa and Heilong & Tarantasio. Finally the service, the staff were cordial, but not very informative or friendly. We had tried to waved down service a few times and they kept missing us. As a first timer to this restaurant, we wished the staff would make recommendations and perhaps suggest pairings. We saw the restaurant staff were friendly towards known customers but we felt oddly distant from their service. read more

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We didn't know what to expect especially after we sat down in this very modern space and were handed menus with so few choices. Nothing in the menu was familiar, either in the pairings or the descriptions. It turned out to be one of the most delicious meals we've had in a long time. Attentive, friendly service, beautiful presentation and every bite pleasing the palate. We ordered most of the appetizers, three plates and two desserts. This restaurant is not inexpensive by any means. But big on flavor, innovative and fresh combinations. read more

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If you go to The Happy Crane for one thing, make it the Peking duck -- it's the star of the meal, hands down. The lacquered skin arrives shattering-crisp and mahogany-dark, sliced into neat squares that crackle the second you bite in, with just enough rendered fat clinging underneath to keep it rich without being greasy. The meat itself is tender and well-seasoned on its own, so even the slices without much skin still hold their own. What really elevates it is the spread that comes with it: paper-thin house-made wrappers, a rich hoisin-style sauce, and a beautiful spread of julienned scallion and cucumber alongside jewel-toned pickled plum wedges for a tart, palate-cleansing contrast. Building your own wraps at the table turns it into an interactive, genuinely fun course rather than just a plate of meat. I'd actually met Chef James previously at a collaboration dinner at Nisei with Chef David Yoshimura, so I was curious to see his cooking in his own space -- and this meal did not disappoint. His hand is precise and confident across the board. We rounded out the meal with several other dishes, all well executed: Beef shin & celery root -- deeply savory, glazed and fragrant with herbs, comfort food elevated Firecracker shrimp -- whole prawns with a crackly, herb-flecked shell, a fun and messy start to the meal Maine sea scallop dumpling -- delicate steamed wrappers crowned with glistening ikura, elegant and briny Crispy maitake cheung fun -- silky rice noodle rolls with crisp mushroom and chili crunch, a great textural contrast Chasiu iberico pork jowl -- awesome. Tender, fatty, char-kissed pork under crisp apple and fennel, one of the standout bites of the night Every dish showed real technique and thoughtful plating, and the staff matched that quality -- warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly throughout the meal, which made the whole evening feel even more special. But it's the duck that will bring me back -- it's easily some of the best I've had in the city, and worth the trip on its own. Perfect for a special dinner or anytime you want to treat yourself to a proper duck course done right. Highly recommend requesting the duck in advance if they offer it, as it's clearly the kitchen's showcase dish. read more

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Familiar yet super zhuzh'd up Cantonese eats: - Wolfe Ranch Quail, meaty, moist, crackly skin - scallop dumplings umami explosion - golden coin, rich, textured buttered bao - XO little fry, garlic chives, bean sprouts, abalone, bay scallop and shrimp - cheong fun, they mill the rice and wrap it around fried maitake, topped with a confit of morels, cilantro flowers, yam leaves - perfect heat from the chili crunch, also didn't miss the meat AT ALL Short by the glass list - but curated well. The pinot noir from burgundy was a great choice to pair with the meal. Beautiful warm space inside, interesting artwork, lighting, the bench seats are quite comfortable and energizing music at a volume not intrusive to conversation. Tables are nicely spaced apart. Hospitality from beginning to end - world class. Front of the house - greeted us and noticed my Open Table note, transferred us from the bar to a table. Water was filled throughout the meal, never dipped below the half line. Napkins folded, chairs pulled, friendly, polished and knowledgeable. Afterwards we talked about the food, space, meal and still thinking about it today. On my short list of restaurants I would want to return to. read more

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Stopped in on a weekday evening at opening and was happily seated without a reservation. Each dish was bursting with flavor and left you wanting more. TLDR: High quality food at a very high price point. The golden coin and the quail are standouts and something that should be on every table The only dish to might skip next time is the silken tofu, it had a gritty texture to it that felt uncharacteristic of a silken tofu. read more

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I am unsure if it's the hype, but Happy Crane was just okay. My friend gave me her reservation that she booked in advance, but the quantity of food does not feel like it matches the price. We ordered the following: +Golden Coin ($11 each) - I liked the concept of this but wish the liver mouse complimented the dumpling more +Firecracker Shrimp ($9 each) - I loved this but it was a bit cold and the mala glaze wasn't really apparent +Sugarsnap pea dumpling ($7 each) - I don't think they serve this anymore but the texture was good +XO Little Fry King ($37) - this was okay but the Xo sauce was good +Maitake Biang Biang ($36) - I loved this a lot. The rice noodle is amazing and the presentation of this is great Overall, the drink menu is very extensive and the selection of beers are very different from other restaurants. The service and ambiance are amazing, but I still can't justify the price point for a just okay meal. I would want to try this again or do the "cook for you" option but for now I want to wait until the hype dies. read more

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Love some of the bites here. There are not many elevated Chinese restaurants around here. This one was a hit. I love the Golden Coin, good flavor, pate was well done. My husband raved about the prawn. I thought it was a little salty. The presentatio was great but it's a fried tempura with fancy seaweed at the end of the day. The beef was good. However, you can get similar quality at other restaurants. I also love the fish and the tangy flavor. We wished they served some rice with the main dishes. Scallop dumpling was a let down, nothing to rave about. Mango sago was good even though I don't like grapefruits. read more

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HAPPINESS 5.0 I absolutely fell in love with The Happy Crane. Nestled in Hayes Velley along bustling Gough Street, it feels like the kind of place that instantly lifts your mood the moment you walk through the door. Parking on the street can be challenging, but there's an open-air lot about 2.5 blocks away, plus a covered garage even closer. From the second we stepped inside, the atmosphere felt warm, bright, and joyful. The abundance of natural light pouring through the windows, paired with the clean and minimal decor, created the perfect balance of cozy and stylish; an ideal casual date-night spot. Our reservation was at the bar, which is always our favorite place to dine. The woman taking care of the bar area was incredibly kind, welcoming, and patient with all of our menu questions. We started with three cocktails: Rosy Dawn, Romance Across 1800 Li (my personal favorite), and Serpent's Kiss. Every drink was beautifully crafted, balanced, and strong in all the right ways; definitely not watered-down cocktails pretending to be craft drinks. Since it was our first visit, we ordered the "Happy As A Crane" tasting menu, and it completely exceeded expectations. Every dish felt thoughtfully composed, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. The tasting menu offered the perfect introduction to their menu, and the pacing throughout the evening was flawless; never rushed, yet never leaving us waiting. We already booked our next reservation, and this time we're going for the Peking duck. It must be reserved 30 days in advance when booking a table reservation (not bar seating), and after this experience, I cannot wait to return. read more

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Lovely experience with good drinks and food! Highlights: - Golden coin (5/5) : the coppa atop pate on a bao bun was delicious - Chasu pork jowl (5/5): so tender and nice chasu flavor. The pieces were good balance of meat to fattiness - Firecracker shrimp (5/5): the shiso wrapped shrimp with its crunch had great flavor and a mala ting to it! - Mango soft serve (5/5): mango coconut sago in soft serve form - soo good! Other dishes were not quite worth it for what it was (the cheung fun was plain, scallop dumpling was ordinary, abalone stirfry was like any other) read more

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a modern, upscale chinese restaurant in hayes! the interior is beautiful and minimalist, and the vibe is more casual. the food are elevated versions of many classic dishes, but they also come with a hefty price tag -- some of which I don't think were worth it: - golden coin ($11): $11 per pc is steep but they have lovely contrasting textures and flavors - maine sea scallop dumpling ($9): definitely not worth $9 per pc, there was barely any scallop and the dumpling was basically one bite - crispy maitake cheung fun ($35): delicious, loved the crisp in contrast to the soft rolls - rosewine charcoal grilled skirt steak ($37): probably my favorite! very tender, I just wished there were more - green garlic & ginger lobster noodles ($72): would skip, very average and the lobster was hard to pry out of the shells read more

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I'm an avid SF Chronicle subscriber and they hyped up the Happy Crane, writing about it before it opened ("S.F.'s hottest new restaurant serves Chinese food with fine-dining precision -- minus the pageantry"). Chef James Yeun Leong Parry has cooked in a few Michelin starred kitchens and the attention to detail shows. It's been open for a few months, but is still very hard to get a reservation. With some patience and persistence, I snagged one for 5:30pm once the reservations opened a month in advance at noon on OpenTable. Note: for the Peking Duck, that is a separate OpenTable experience to reserve! I didn't realize this and just made a normal reservation. The whole table opted for the $120 pp tasting menu. My mom has a lot of allergies and our waiter tried to discourage us from doing the tasting menu because she wouldn't be able to have all of the dishes, but she didn't want to keep the rest of us from enjoying it. In the end, they accommodated her allergies and gave her her own plate of a modified dish to try. It was very kind and thoughtful. The appetizers are steep ($9-$11 per piece) so we thought it would be worth it to do the tasting menu because it gave us all of the appetizers except one (the house silken tofu.) Small: - Firecracker Shrimp w/ nori, shiso, mala glaze ($9 pp): Loved nori and shiso. The glaze wasn't the spicy Mala. We had high expectations for this but it didn't end up being one of our top dishes. - ** Golden Coin: Coppa, rose wine chicken liver-mousse, house bao ($11 pp): Great bao and mousse. Unique. Meaty. One of my favorites. - Nantucket Scallop Dumpling (fava leaf, shrimp, trout roe). Unique dumpling. - doupi tofu salad (roasted bell pepper sauce, sakura shrimp). Good. - ** beef shin & artichoke ($19, master stock, celtuce, house chili vinaigrette.) Probably my favorite appetizer. - hawthorne berry oyster ($5, oyster of the day, hawthorne mignonette). - lo hei (hamachi, green sichuan oil, ginger, sunchoke - ginger scallion scallop (scalded chives, jicama, salted radish) Medium: - XO little fry king (monterey abalone, bay shrimp and scallop, jimmy nardello). I liked this better the second day. Diverse plethora of seafood and interesting sauce. - rosewine charcoal grilled skirt steak (sarawak black pepper, shisito). I think we shouldn't have gotten this, but my mom is allergic to cod and eggplant and they gave her a modified cod with no eggplant, forgetting that she's allergic to cod too.) The steak was chewy, tender, and cooked well. - ** geoduck clam egg custard (pidan yolk, mungbean noodle, green garlic). Probably my favorite medium dish. Loved the custard and the clam combo. Large: - Char siu Iberico Pork Jowl w/ lime ginger compressed-apple, scallion rice ($45). There are 2 types of scallion in that rice and I think it's the best rice I've ever had. There could've been more meat in this but it was delicious and flavorful. - Fish Flagrant Fish (lingcod, eggplant roasted, celtuce, yam leaves.) Good cod. Honestly we were full by this one and we took some home. Dessert: - ** mocha hazelnut sesame balls. Not overly sweet, unique creative combo. Nice consistency. - ** mango sago soft serve. A treat! - strawberry tanghulu with jasmine tea panna cotta. The best part, to me, was the panna cotta Drinks: Loved the Romance Across 1800 Li (nikka vodka, lychee, elderflower, vanilla, mei kuei lu chiew mist). Cocktails were unique and creative. Take public transit, Uber, or walk here. Parking is a pain. Service was wonderful and attentive. The food could've been salty so we drank a lot of water and they couldn't fill it fast enough! read more

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This is a very special restaurant. Led by a head-chef that's worked in multiple Michelin restaurants, including SF's Benu, you can taste the attention to detail in every dish. Starting with the small plates, you know you're in for a treat. The highlight is the Golden Coin, featuring liver mousse on top a buttery toast, the fattiness coats your mouth. While the dim sum are great, where the menu really shines are the medium and large plates. The Wolfe Ranch Quail is paired with a PERFECT blend of salt, sugar, peppercorn, and mala spice that gently coats your tongue leaving the great Sichuan numbing feeling. For the large plates, the pork jowl is a must. Made in the traditional Hong Kong style, the outside is nicely charred while the inside is tender, soft, and rich. Paired with slices of green apple, the sweetness compliments the pork wonderfully. One of my absolute favorites was the pomelo mango sago. Taking a traditional Asian dessert, Happy Crane turns it into an ice cream while still maintaining the essence of the dish, with sago, chunks of pomelo throughout, and a luxurious mango flavor. Having just opened less than a year ago, Happy Crane is planting a flag as one of the best restaurants in the city. Not only can you tell there is incredible detail to the way the dishes are built, each dish's flavor feels delicate yet bold. You can taste every intention of the chef without being overwhelmed. Additionally, the service is excellent, with the manager and head chef constantly monitoring diner progress to time the serving of dishes. It feels like you are eating at your pace not the restaurant's, which for a restaurant of this size, is impressive. Ultimately, Happy Crane offers traditional flavors presented in innovative dishes. The attention to detail in both flavor and service create a dining experience you'll be thinking about long after you've left. read more

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Finally popped by the Happy Crane last night for dinner. What a beautiful, sleek space, friendly servers. If you're looking for upscale Cantonese food, this place does it well. We ordered the seared sea scallop dumpling, crispy maitake cheung fun, rosewine charcoal grilled skirt steak and chasiu. Happy crane serves happy food- canto food that is nostalgic with a twist. The Cheung fun wrapped around the fried crispy maitake mushrooms mimics the taste & airy bite of a Chinese donut. Takes me back to my childhood dunking a Chinese donut in a bowl of porridge. The Chasiu is glazed tastefully served with a bowl of scallion rice. Sends me back to eating Chasiu rice plates growing up or having chasiu with the family at home. The dessert of the Mochi Rocher is inspired by the Rocher chocolate. One bite into the glutinous ball, it was just like a fried sesame ball (commonly served with red bean or lotus paste) but served with a twist- cinnamon and hazelnut warm chocolate. Happy crane makes me happy. Well thought out food, a blast to the past especially growing up eating canto food. read more

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The restaurant is super trendy, and it's gotten some well deserved hype. We sat in the back area sectioned off from the rest of the restaurant and it felt very comfy despite the tables being relatively close. The bar had excellent lighting and overall good vibe. Service was extremely attentive and kept the pacing of the meal very smooth, which I always appreciate. Food and beverages were all a hit and after the meal was over, we immediately made a reservation for 3 weeks later when family would be visiting. We got - - Firecracker shrimp - Very fun to try once. I'll probably skip this one next time around since I felt it was a bit dry - Silken tofu - excellent, would get it again - Skirt steak - felt like a high quality beef and broccoli dish, would also get again - Cheung fen - the fried maitake mushrooms were a creative take in the rice noodle dish. I enjoyed it, but I'll probably skip next time as well - Pork jowl - excellent, coming back almost exclusively for this dish - Bartender's daily drink - I think it was called immortal peach? Was a take on a mezcal last word. I absolutely loved this drink read more

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I see why the crane is happy. As a vegetarian I was quite happy with the food here. I had the delicious dumpling stuffed with fried mushroom. The texture of the soft dough and the chewy crunch mushroom inside was enjoyable. It could've used some more sauce on top to make the flavor stand out more. Soft tofu was excellent. The herbs, sweetness of the pepper, the schecuan pepper all were a wonderful combo. Service was very attentive and prompt, for example my chopstick fell and I had a new one in 20 seconds Chef came and talked to us which was a nice personal touch. The ambience is very cozy and classy. read more

The Happy Crane - Soft tofu - Chinese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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FOOD: 5 SERVICE: 5 AMBIANCE: 5 VALUE: 5 Ok, the hype is real! The meal was amazing! Since this was our first visit, we decided to do their "Happy As A Crane" tasting menu which is sized for the number of people in the dining party. The meal consisted of: Small plates Hawthorne Berry Oysters - served with a mignotte sauce, fresh and succulent. Beef Shin & Celery Root - very tender pieces of beef served over chili oil (not too spicy). Dopui Tofu Salad - tofu skin served with roasted bell peppers, Sakura shrimp and pickled bamboo shoots. The Sakura shrimp, fried baby shrimp added a crunch to the dish. A refreshing alternative to a vegetable salad. Golden Coin - Italian cured pork, chicken liver mousse served on a bao. A flavorful take on the classic pork bun. Firecracker Shrimp - large shrimp wrapped in Nori and then deep fried in batter, topped with shiso leaf shreds. Crispy, tasty fried shrimp. Maine Sea Scallop Dumpling - the seared scallop pieces were tasty, but the dumpling was just regular. Medium Plate Steamed egg with sliced geoduck clams. This was not on the regular menu, just a part of the tasting menu. Chinese style steamed egg, topped with crunchy geoduck clams. A flavorful dish. Large Plates Fish Fragrant Fish - black cod steamed with heart of eggplants and green. Buttery soft and flavorful, served at the right doneness. Chasiu Iberico Pork Jowl - a different take on the regular Chinese BBQ pork. The Iberico pork was juicy, tender and busting with umami. It was served with scallion rice which itself was distinctive. We left fulfilled and satisfied. This was one amazing meal from start to finish. The staff was attentive and checked on us often. Definitely a first class experience and we will be back to try their Peking Duck. read more

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After booking a few weeks in advance, my husband and I finally had the chance to try this restaurant last night. I had already done some research through other reviews, which helped us decide what to order and everything lived up to expectations. We started with the firecracker shrimp, which were absolutely delicious. My husband also ordered the golden coin (since I don't eat pork), and he loved it. We shared the scallop dumplings as a snack, and those were very good as well. For our medium plates, we chose the quail and the firefly squid "little fry king"...both were excellent. By that point we were completely full, so we couldn't try anything else, but we are already looking forward to going back. As for the ambiance, I was expecting something more formal, but it felt more relaxed than anticipated, which I actually appreciated. The service was also very good and added to the overall experience. read more

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Overall had a very mixed experience at Happy Crane. Ambiance was nice and service was nice but food was a huge hit or miss Dimsum items were all very good - golden coin, doupi tofu salad, firecracker shrimp, and beef shank / celery root. Quite pricey but very good taste wise Then it went downhill - quail and XO stir fry were not very memorable but fine. Pork jowl was so so tough and impossible to chew. I could not bite into the pieces and just gave up eating it after awhile. Quite unfortunate because the flavor was decent. The pork jowl was actually so tough and impossible to eat that I almost sent it back. Surprised no one at the restaurant asked us about it since we left most of it on the table. Ended with the mango sorbet which was refreshing! Overall would try the dimsum items but everything else was not impressive. read more

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I came back to try the new spring menu items. Having been twice before, I was exciting to dine here again but this time I was left very disappointed. . I arrived 30 minutes before my reservation and the hostess graciously seated my party early. We opted to order a la carte in order to try the new dishes but to our disappointment, we were told that the geoduck clam egg custard was only available through the tasting menu. This was one of the dishes we were looking most forward to! We ordered the XO little fry king with firedly squid, the grilled skirt steak, and the lobster noodle. Our waitress asked if it was alright if the medium plates came out first and then the large plate (the lobster). This was fine with us initially but the wait between the medium and large dish turned out to be at least 30 minutes. We were pretty flavor-fatigued by the time the lobster arrived. XO Little King stiry fry (4/5): This dish is a variation of the one that was on the initial menu, with a new inclusion of firefly squid. Overall we liked it but the longer we ate it, the intense flavor of the squid head/brains became overwhelming and fishy. Flavor wise, this was less salty than the previous times I've had this dish. Ingredient wise, I would lean towards the other iterations. Charcoal grilled skirt steak (2/5): I was really disappointed with this dish. The dish had an odd floral/sweet taste, perhaps due to the inclusion of the peppercorns sprinkled on top. The steak was cooked nicely but it was a tad chewier than I expected. The cabbage and the onions didn't offer much other than sweetness. We ate all the steak and left a lot of the vegetables behind. Lobster noodles (2/5): A sour flavor was our first impression. Upon talking to the waitress, we learned that fresh ginger juice was poured onto the dish. That didn't really seem to line up with the sour profile but we didn't question her further. The noodles were more like pasta and were on the softer side. The only part we liked was the fresh Maine lobster (and only half a lobster at that! but at $72 for the dish and the long wait for this course, this was very underwhelming. Ginger scallion lobster e-mein is one of my favorite Cantonese dishes so this was even more disappointing. Strawberry tanghulu (3/5): This was the only new dessert available. Unfortunately, it was another disappointment. The green lime sauce tasted soapy and we had to scoop most of it off the panna cotta. The infusion of jasmine tea into the panna cotta was enjoyable and the texture was on point. The fresh berries were nice. Tanghulu was made well but admittedly, I ended up breaking off most of the sugar and only eating the strawberry. Nothing wrong with it- I personally don't like unnecessary sugar like this or frosting. We mentioned celebrating a birthday so a candle was included. This was not a complimentary dessert however. Staff were attentive as usual but our waitress wasn't very warm. She did check in with us multiple times during the meal but when we expressed mild disappointment towards the dishes, it felt a little awkward. Overall, this was my most disappointing visit. Everything was visually beautiful but they all missed the mark in some way. I still like the restaurant and would consider coming back in the future, but that may be a while before I do. read more

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I had good first meal at Happy Crane. Located in the heart of Hayes Valley, Happy Crane offers high quality modern Chinese food. The interior is beautifully designed, with bar seating and dining tables suitable for small to large groups. Staff are welcoming, accommodating, and knowledgeable about the menu, ingredients, and source. My favorite were the lo hei, firecracker shrimp, oyster pancake, quail, and the black cod. To me, the golden coin and chasiu were a miss - overly sweet and too chewy. Would recommend the mango sorbet and sago to end the night. Overall, a decent experience. Mostly hits, but some misses. read more

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Loved this place, was able to snag a reservation same day last minute. We tried the tasting menu. Firecracker shrimp and the Jowl were my favorites! I also loved the mango pomelo dessert! Got way more dishes than we anticipated! Everything was great tbh. Only feedback was the fish dish was a bit light on flavor... Portions got bigger as the meal went on. Service was warm and great! Super attentive servers, cleaning up our table for us and refilling water, etc. read more

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Happy Crane in Hayes is the rare "hot new spot" that not only lives up to the buzz, but exceeds it. From the moment we walked in, the room felt like a beautiful, warm space anchored by a large wraparound bar in the center that gives the whole restaurant an intimate, convivial energy. Our server, whose name I regretfully can't recall but who had lovely wrist tattoos, was genuinely sweet, attentive, and present throughout the evening in a way that elevated the entire experience. Overall experience We opted for the "Happy as a Crane" tasting menu, and for our group it was absolutely the right call. The pacing and progression of courses felt deliberate and thoughtful, building from bright, punchy bites into deeper, richer flavors before landing on a satisfying, almost whimsical finish. As with any long tasting, a couple of dishes were more "good" than unforgettable, but the through-line of the night was balance: texturally, flavor-wise, and in portion size, we left feeling fully satisfied and, yes, literally "happy as a crane." Standout dishes The firecracker shrimp was the standout of the night and unlike anything I've had elsewhere, with the crispy and crackly exterior, plump and juicy shrimp dusted in nori, a lingering mala warmth and I absolutely loved that it was served with the head as that is always my favorite part of any ebi dish. The custard course had that gorgeous velvety texture, and the pairing with the sweet brininess and subtle crunch of geoduck was absolute perfection. The XO stir fry was absolutely loaded with abalone and scallops, a generous, umami-rich toss of seafood that instantly transported me back to the "wok hei" of dai pai dongs in Hong Kong. Among the larger plates, the pork jowl and fragrant fish were a brilliant study in contrasts. The char siu-style pork jowl was rich and fatty with a touch of sweetness in the best way (though it was a bit too fatty for some of my tablemates understandably), while the aromatic black cod was light, flaky, and perfumed with tangy black vinegar and I loved that it came with the crispy skin intact. Style, concept, and value What excites me most about Happy Crane is that it isn't just upscale Chinese food in the sense of familiar dishes at higher prices; it feels like its own point of view, with modern Chinese cooking that is rooted in tradition but unapologetically creative. The kitchen leans into top-notch ingredients and fine-dining techniques without losing the soul and comfort that make Chinese food so beloved. In a city where many elevated Chinese concepts can feel like expensive retreads, Happy Crane is actually pushing the conversation forward, and I would not be surprised at all to see Michelin come knocking in the near future. Right now, it still feels like you're getting in slightly ahead of the inevitable wave as the dining room is already buzzy and reservations can take effort, but there's still that sense of discovery that makes a meal here feel special. My advice is to book soon, do the "Happy as a Crane" tasting at least once, and enjoy this place before the lines get even longer and the prices catch up to how good it really is. read more

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11/10 - so good. Actually it could have been 12/10 until they served me tofu panna cotta that tasted like perfume and I could barely touch it. I have always wanted to try out The Happy Crane but it was quite hard to book like nearly a year ago so its name just slipped off my mind. I'm just glad that I saw its name and made last minute reservation yesterday when I was browsing where to eat. Anyway, I went for their anniversary tasting menu. So so delicious (minus tofu panna cotta sort of dessert- I know I should shut up about it lol). I saw the next table ordering dishes off the menu and honestly it looked and smelled so great too. It is no brainer to say that this is my favorite cantoneese restaurant in SF at the moment. The drinks were also pretty good. I could drink more if it's not that I decided to drive myself to the restaurant (big mistake since it takes me more than 15 mins to find a parking spot) read more

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As my 1,800th review was approaching, it didn't take long for me to decide on what to review to mark the occasion. Even though I actually had a place in mind already, it wasn't hard to pivot after my friend was able to snag a ridiculously elusive reservations at one of SF's most hyped restaurants - The Happy Crane! Just a shame this didn't end up being a five star review, though... Almost as soon as we walked in, I was almost immediately enamored with how they fashioned the look of the old Monsieur Benjamin space - modern and thoughtful with a modestly themed decor. More importantly, though, their elevated take on classic Cantonese was what obviously attracted us the most. Since the menu tends to get tweaked somewhat regularly, we were happy to see that a lot of the dishes that we were most curious about were still listed when we sat down, as well as several others that piqued our interest. Had we not already locked in an order of their Peking Duck, we definitely would've gone with their prix fixe option to try a bit of everything, -- THE EMPEROR'S INDULGENCE - Peking Duck Washed-Hennessy, Roasted Longan Black Tea Chajiu, Mandarin Honey Cordial, Shiso, Mole, Smoked Tableside...$40 We ordered this one to share ($$) and I'm glad we did - just a couple of sips was enough for me. Fun presentation, but it tasted more meaty and smokey than like duck. -- UNDER RED LANTERNS - Red Bean Yuzu Vodka, Pineapple, Macadamia Nut, Coconut Cream, Lime...$19 Pretty decent overall. The pineapple and coconut gave this a pina colada-esque profile - light, sweet, and super easy to drink. -- SERPENT'S KISS - El Tesoro Reposado, Amaras Cupreata Mezcal, Apricot, Miso, Mustard, Pommeau, Citrus, Whey...$19 Easily our table's favorite cocktail (we each got one). While you can certainly taste the mezcal, this wasn't overly strong and was balanced nicely by the apricot, pommeau, and citrusy notes. -- HOUSE SILKEN TOFU - Cara Cara Orange, Avocado, Pidan, Green Sichuan...$14 Pretty simple, but not too shabby either. Although we couldn't taste much of the pidan (it was just the whites, no yolk), I liked how silky the tofu was and the bit of acidity from the orange. -- BEEF SHIN & CELERY ROOT - Master Stock, Celtuce, House Chili Vinaigrette...$18 The sauce was pretty good and the beef shin was quite tender, but I wish the former had more of a kick or some Sichuan peppercorns and that the latter had been seasoned more. -- GOLDEN COIN - Coppa, Rose Wine Chicken Liver Mousse, House Bao...$11 (per pc) This was AWESOME. The bao was soft with a nice crust, the mousse had a rich umami, and the slices of coppa added a bit of salty meatiness. Delicious! -- FIRECRACKER SHRIMP - Nori, Shiso, Mala Glaze...$9 (per pc) Not extraordinarily unique, but I thought this was solid. The shrimp were surprisingly big, the batter had a nice crunch, and I liked the mix of nori and shiso. -- CRAB RICE ROLL - Fresh Milled Rice Roll, Shaoxing Crab Butter, Trout Roe...$32 The rice rolls were really thin and broke apart, but blend of everything together was actually pretty interesting, especially the crab and roe. -- XO LITTLE FRY KING - Monterey Abalone, Bay Shrimp and Scallop, Sweet Peppers...$37 Ehh...this was okay. I liked the chunks of abalone and seafood in this, but this felt super heavy on beansprouts and green onions (though, it did give texture to the dish). -- CHASIU IBERICO PORK JOWL - Lime Ginger Compressed Niitaka Pear, Scallion Rice...$43 The portion was huge and the pork jowl was cooked really well, but the taste of the hoisin sauce was overwhelming. As for the rice, it didn't have a strong scallion flavor to it, but was otherwise fine. -- PEKING DUCK...$135 Uber disappointing. While the portion looked generous, everything was overcooked - the skin was brittle like a wafer, parts of the fat were burnt, and what little meat there was bordered on dry. Plus, the wraps felt grainy from the residual flour still on it. As far as service goes, The Happy Crane definitely deserves some plus points, as everyone was super friendly and attentive. They explained each dish in detail, they proactively refilled our water glasses, and they folded our napkins whenever one of us stepped away. What's more, our server made a point to regularly update us on the status of our Peking Duck, which was appreciated, though hardly necessary (it took about as long as he estimated when we sat down, so no issues there). All in all, while I considered rounding up based on the food alone, I feel like The Happy Crane is a bit of a victim of its own success/hype. There were several pluses despite our one big minus, and we still had a great time, but given their prices and their collective acclaim, we expected more. And sure, It's possible it was just an off night, but it's undeniably a bummer we didn't leave feeling blown away like so many others have. THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down. read more

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I finally made it to The Happy Crane. I've been wanting to come here since they opened but it's one of the hardest reservations to get at the moment. Lucky for me, I have a friend who is particularly tenacious and got us a table on a Tuesday night. They offer a tasting menu (Happy As a Crane) for $120 and that's what we got. The tasting menu consists of nine savory dishes and two desserts. The first three to come out were the oysters, the beef shin and celery root and the doupi tofu salad. Then came the firecracker shrimp, the golden coin and the scallop and peashoot dumpling. The mains were the abalone, the lingcod and the pork jowl. Desserts included the mochi rocher (think the chocolate inside but with a mochi exterior) and a mango sorbet sago (mango sorbet with assorted jelly). All of the dishes were flavorful. The one crlticism I have is that the pork jowl came out a bit on the chewy side. If ordering à la carte, I would definitely do the tofu salad, the firecracker shrimp, golden coin and the lingcod. Those were the best bites for me. Service was good but the restaurant got a bit busy and I had to ask for my water to be refilled twice. The space is gorgeous - they really brightened up the old Monsieur Benjamin spot. With tax and tip, this was about $165 for the tasting menu which is what you'd expect to pay for a good tasting menu these days. Highly, highly recommended!!! read more

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It used to be Monsieur Benjamin! I recognize the outside of the restaurant by just the long glass windows. The restaurant's name does make a person dining in feel happy like a crane! I don't usually eat fancy Chinese as it's not authentic but here at Happy Crane, the food is very unique and somewhat authentic. My hubs and I got a rsvp on Christmas Eve at 8:45pm. It was pouring rain and we were debating to cancel but I didn't want to get charge for a no show so we took Uber and still went. We were greeted by the host and she acknowledge it was a birthday celebration then we were greeted by our waitress. We ordered and some of the dishes can shortly after. As we ate and ate the rest of food just tasted fresh and yummy. Our fave for the night was the dessert, we ordered the Mango sago sorbet with pomelo and kiwi. It was light and divine. I wish there was more. We were able to see the co-owner and sous chef from far. We would def come back to try more of their food!!! If you're ever in the Hayes Valley area go check it out but be prepare to pay the prices but I guarantee you'll be happy like a crane too. read more

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Hype, hype, HYPE! Food/value 1/5 stars. The ambiance and the service are the only reasons I am giving this place 2 stars (and even, then I was hesitant to go that high). Cocktails were pretty good if not a tad on the sweet side. The food was so lackluster. Every single dish was missing something (or more than one thing). I didn't take a picture of the menu and most of the things we ate are not on the online menu, so I will do my best to recount what we ate: Hamachi, sunchoke salad: 3/5 Decent flavor, lacking texture, really chintzy portions of hamachi. It was more about featuring root vegetables than anything. Flavors were unremarkable and not unique in any way. Tofu salad: 3/5 Again, decent flavor, but nothing I haven't had before. Lacking texture. Needed something fried and crispy on top. It had sliced up bell peppers in there and, while that offered crunch, it was watery. Overall, very one-dimensional. Scallop and pea shoot dumplings: 1/5 This is a joke, right? ONE DUMPLING is $10, AND it's NOT good. If I ordered 6 of these for $10 at a dim sum place, I would say "meh" and never order it again. This dish desperately needed salt and umami. All I could really taste was chlorophyll from the pea shoots and the scallop itself tasted fishy. If you are going to charge $10 per dumpling, it better be fucking amazing. Literally any dumpling off of Yank Sing's menu is better than these were. What are we even doing here?? Dungeness crab lo mein: 1/5 Probably the most disappointing dish of the night. Mush. The dish was mush. Texturally unappealing doesn't even begin to describe it. Honestly the most actual crab that was served with the dish was the shell that they served along side the noodles. I could tell that the noodles were good quality, but they just fell limp. There was zero texture in this dish but mushy noodles. Barely ANY crab and it was $42!!! I normally end these thing with a little bit a synopsis, but I think I can sum this place up with this: WHERE. IS. THE. FLAVOR?? The bill with three cocktails and the four dishes above before tip was $171. Take your money elsewhere. read more

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Our recent weather may be dreadful, but rain is widely considered good luck, good fortune , and blessings in Chinese culture. Our date night on Christmas Eve at The Happy Crane was indeed very pleasant and fortuitous filled with flavorful food and delicious cocktails. Service was impeccable with staff noting my restriction's request right away. They also checked in frequently to make sure all is well. We had the following: *as above, so below (non-alcoholic) cocktail $17. Delicious! Citrusy and the right amount of sour. I wanted another one! *Phoenix oolong cold brew $8. Smooth tasting. Like it. *Doupi tofu salad $15. Love the texture and the flavor. As a cold dish, we love that it's not too cold. *firecracker shrimp $9. We got two pieces. I would definitely get this again. Really like it. Crispy and delicious with a slightly mala flavor. *Crab Rice Roll $32. Interesting take on cheung fun. Not my favorite on this visit. *Maitake Biang Biang $36. Delicious noodles and mushrooms. *Poached pear & smoked chestnut $14. Delicious, cooling and hydrating. Love the snow fungus in this dessert. The crème fraiche is creamy and goes well with the pear. Located on Gough and Ivy. read more

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I was really surprised by our experience here. I have heard only amazing things and was excited & ready for a lovely celebration meal but found the service, food, and overall experience to be lack luster. I appreciated the ambiance and the tableware - which is why I gave it 2 stars. Otherwise, the food was incredibly heavy (in fact it made us feel unwell) and the service felt rushed and un attentive. It's also incredibly hard to get a reservation and generally really difficult to get in touch with anyone here. We reached out multiple times earlier in the day for a certain accommodation and never heard back. I'd be hesitant to recommend this place to friends! read more

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If I was a bird, I'd be a happy crane right now. I will admit to being ready for a let down due to all the hype and how hard it is to get a table here but I am here to report it wasn't just a hype! I am ready to claim this THE best restaurant of 2026! Ambiance: It is so hard to find a nice restaurant where you're not screaming at the person across the table because the acoustics are so bad. Happy Crane shows us that it is absolutely possible to do it!!! The lighting is also just right, no need to feel old by pulling out your phone flashlight and not so bright that you look pale. Even the counter seats are well situated and you don't feel crowded. Food: 10/10. I was very skeptical that it could be worth paying more for Chinese food. I mean Chinese food is great already! Well, I was wrong. The flavors on all the dishes are fantastic, especially all the mains. You absolutely cannot skip out on the mushroom noodles. It is hand made noodles packed with umami flavors. We get it every time. The pork jowl is their take on the traditional chasui pork but holy cow (or should I say pig?), it is amazing!!! The slight charcoal taste on the perfectly cooked pork jowl along with pickled apple and fennel slices is just divine. This dish does come with flavorful bowl of rice. We also tried few starters and mediums including the crab rice roll. They were all very good but we are sticking with mostly the mains for our return trips. The dessert are also fantastic so save room for the mochi filled with hazelnut chocolate cream. Tip: If you're willing to ditch your friends, you can usually find a counter seat for 1. Trust me, that has crossed my mind more than once! This place is that good! read more

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Was very excited to try this new modern Cantonese Chinese restaurant and this place did not disappoint. Started the meal out with some ginger scallion scallops and smacked cucumbers. The scallion sauce was very reminiscent of typical Cantonese steamed fish. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't say this was extraordinary or special. The smacked cucumbers were refreshing, seasoned appropriately and memorable. The sugarsnap pea dumplings were unique and had a nice sea foam that was aerated and complimented the shiitake and summer squash filling. I enjoyed this, but probably would not order again since my tastebuds were left pining for a more traditional denser/meatier filling. The beef shin & celery root dish had a nice kick to it with the chili oil vinaigrette. The first star of the night would be the oyster pancake. My goodness gracious, this pancake had the PERFECT crunchy exterior with a nice chew throughout the pancake. The fermented chili sauce was also a nice offset to the briny oyster notes. Tip-eat this fast to fully maximize the crispy bite experience. The second start was the Iberico Pork Jowl. Just get it, you'll have no regrets. The only dish I regretted ordering was the salted egg yolk squash. The lettuce wrap felt awkward like it was an on the whim accompaniment and the fried squash felt like it needed to be air fried since there was no crunch and was a bit soggy. All in all, the Happy Crane does a great job at adding a touch of unique and memorable, yet nostalgic essence to their dishes and is a great new spot for those who want something different. Will definitely be back! read more

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Finally got to try The Happy Crane, and was fortunate enough to snag a seating for their highly anticipated CNY collab with Sun Moon Studio. Amazing menu, featuring the house specials of each restaurant. Loved their creative takes on traditional Chinese dishes. Favorite bites included their collab lobster dumpling, the crab butter lo mein, and Buddha jumps over the wall soup. So many courses with high quality ingredients that made the meal worth every penny. Cannot wait to come back next month to try the rest of their regular Ala carte menu! read more

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It took us a while to get a reservation here, squeezing in at 8:30PM on a Tuesday. It was very busy then too with a few more groups coming in at 9PM seatings. It is a beautiful space doesn't feel too tight despite the closely set tables. We ordered the chef's choice menu and it was a great assortment of Chinese dishes with a unique flair. The food was very good but some dishes not as well executed as others. The servers are prompt in delivering the many course dishes but all of our servers (we had at least four) were extremely rushed in describing the dishes, most of the time no one in my party caught the details behind the main ingredients. For a restaurant with innovative takes on traditional dishes, these details matter, and it would be great if all the servers could slow down a bit despite the busy dinner time guest volume. read more

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We came here for our anniversary dinner and ordered the happy as a crane tasting menu with the wine pairing and the drink of the week (coast to coast)! The wine pairing matched every course so well, from the appetizers to the main course to the desserts. We were very impressed by the ambience (not too loud or quiet) and service was fantastic. Our favorites were the firecracker shrimp and golden coin paired with the reisling, char siu, and the niangao. There was a very nice contrast in the niangao--warm gao with cold creme fraiche, a perfect balance of sweet and salty. The citrusy kumquat and grapefruit helped balance the heavier creme. I think this is my favorite restaurant in SF, and we'll definitely be back!! :) read more

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If there were 6 stars this restaurant would be the one to earn it. One of the most innovative restaurants I've eaten at in years. What they are doing with traditional Chinese food with a modern twist is amazing. We tried so many things and everything was exceptional. The chasiu iberico pork jowl was my personal favorite. We had friends in from New York and 3 out of the 4 of us are professional chefs. All of us were in heaven. The staff were beyond friendly and attentive. And the restaurant was so cute and comfy. We were lucky enough to get to chat with Chef James and he was so friendly and passionate about his food. It was so refreshing and inspiring. read more

Made reservations at 7:45pm for a group of 4 people at the bar, arrived around 7:35pm and there was a little wait before we were greeted by the host and seated at the bar. Reservations are quite hard to secure, definitely look a month out to book. Space feels warm yet minimal in design with a good amount of open space, bar seats were surprisingly comfortable. Low lighting, noise level wasn't too high appreciated that you could hear others and have a conversation. Drinks: Flying Nimbus - an interesting non-alcoholic options which tasted like a salted lemon highball, pretty refreshing, a little savory, a great drink to pair with the food on the menu Food: Scallop Crudo - solid, thin slices of scallops paired with crunchy jicama slices which some really enjoyed and other thought was too much of a crunchy textural contrast for crudo, flavor of the scallion, ginger and garlic paired well with the scallops, light and refreshing, this is on the smaller side Doupi Tofu Salad - solid, tender thin sheets of tofu skin julienned into thin strips along with some bell pepper and crunchy dried shrimp pieces, this was a medium spice level, flavors felt balanced with nice textural contrast, didn't feel super unique or interesting but tasted good Firecracker Shrimp - good, a fried whole shrimp that's butterflied with head on, tail is wrapped in nori and rice paper and fried crisp in a light batter, garnished with super finely cut shiso which added an herbal freshness, the shrimp texture was a tad on the mealy side, but did make for easier bite through so this might be intentional, think this could have benefited from a little more of the mala glaze, ate a touch dry, very unique and interesting Golden Coin - okay, a round griddled bao that was a hybrid of a steamed bun and pancake texture in texture, chicken liver mousse added a creamy richness, coppa added savory meatiness, wish this had a sprinkle of salt to finish, felt slightly under seasoned for my taste Crab Rice Roll - okay, noodles were tender, soft and slippery, crab butter sauce reminded me of super savory egg drop soup mixed with crab, trout roe added burst of saltiness, the brothy sauce seemed to mask the taste of the crab itself XO little fry - okay, the abalone slices were a little bit on the chewy touch side, scallops and bay shrimp were pretty small pieces, dish was primarily stir fried green chives which tasted good but some were a little tough in texture, bean sprouts and sweet peppers, staff recommend some steamed rice to go with this and glad we included it, wish there was a bit more of the xo sauce on top or on the side Maitake Biang Biang - solid, noodles had a nice chewy yet tender texture, lots of mushrooms in this dish which added meatiness, a little spicy and salty from the soy, flavor was solid some bites were saltier than others Mango Sorbet with Coconut Sago - loved this dessert, super refreshing, sorbet had a nice creamy texture with fantastic sweet mango flavor, coconut sago added a creamy richness, the variety of fresh fruits from the kiwi to the citrus fruit added additional burst of tart acidity, a great end to the meal Service was excellent, staff is super knowledgeable about the menu with great recommendation on portion size and accompaniments to the dishes we ordered. Pacing of the meal was also great, felt very well expedited, we were provided serving utensils for each course and new plates when needed without needing to ask which was great. Water was refilled throughout our meal, overall super pleased. Overall this was a solid meal but given the great reviews and accolades The Happy Crane received in 2025 had high expectations, and it fell a bit short for me. All the savory dishes were good to okay, only dessert was the real standout for me personally. Would suggest waiting for they hype to die down if you want to give this spot a try. read more

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Some awesome and unique fusion dishes here, we had such a wonderful time tasting the various dishes through the "Happy As A Crane" tasting menu. Favorites were the -oysters -beef shin; beef incredibly tender, doused in chili oil -dopui tofu salad; just a fun appetizer, easy to eat, flavorful, unique -firecracker shrimp; crispy, salty, with a mild numbing spice to follow! -pork jowls; think cha siu but more tender and more fatty! Appreciated them served with thin lime ginger apples, made for a yummy balanced bite! Neutral on -golden coin; open faced cured pork and chicken liver mousse on a bao. A bit salty, a bit sweet, a bit messy... -steamed egg with geoduck clams; classic steamed egg, tasty, just didn't find anything special about it -black cod; again, tasty, no complaints, just nothing special. Fish buttery. Would pass on -sea scallop dumpling; nothing special, quite literally just "mid" as the cool ones say Dessert was fun-- a ferrero mochi and mango coconut soft serve! Service was great from start to finish. There's some hits and misses here, but I wouldn't mind coming back. Would like to try other dishes on the menu, esp their peking duck I keep reading about. read more

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